At an early summer political dinner, I had the chance to meet Congressman Dr. Andy Harris. I wondered whether, instead of the usual handshake and two-minute back-and-forth that’s usual with people of his stature, he would he allow me more time to delve into his unique life story with a sit-down discussion? Happily, Congressman Harris was eager to oblige!
I met the personable “Americanophile” in the Longworth Office Building in Washington, D.C., on a humid, cloud-covered summer afternoon. Dr. Harris was kind enough to grant me the opportunity to hear who he is and what he stands for. While only a few Where What When readers may be represented by Dr. Harris in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, we will nevertheless find his life story, ideology, and personal beliefs interesting. Certainly, his views on the issues are relevant to all voters in the upcoming midterm elections.
Dr. Harris’s district encompasses the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland as well as parts of Baltimore, Harford, and Carroll Counties. A Republican, Dr. Harris defeated the Democratic incumbent in 2010, receiving 54 percent of the vote. In the following elections, Dr. Harris easily and handily defeated his respective opponents with 63 percent of the vote in 2012, 70 percent in 2014, and 67 percent in 2016. Dr. Harris is on the ballot again on November 6, 2018.
Dr. Harris’s background reads like a classic American story. The son of immigrants, he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and was elected to Congress as one of only 435 members of the House of Representatives. Harris’s father, Zoltán Harris, was an anesthesiologist, born in Miskolc, Hungary, in 1911, and immigrated to the United States in 1950. His mother, Irene, was born in Poland. He grew up in Queens, New York, and attended Regis High School in Manhattan.
Dr. Harris earned his B.S. in biology and his M.D. (1980) from The Johns Hopkins University. The University’s Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health conferred upon him a master of health science degree in 1995, with concentrations in health policy, management, and finance. Harris served in the Navy Medical Corps and the U.S. Navy Reserve as a lieutenant commander on active duty during Operation Desert Storm; he currently serves as a commander. He has worked as an anesthesiologist, an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, and chief of obstetric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Harris also served as commanding officer for the Johns Hopkins Navy Reserve Medical Unit from 1989 to 1992.
Dr. Harris entered politics for the first time in 1998, when he was elected to the Maryland Senate from District 9 for Baltimore County. He was reelected in 2002 and served as minority whip from 2003 to 2006. In 2006 he again won reelection. As we said, Dr. Harris went to Washington in 2010.
Ira Friedman: Dr. Harris to Congressman Harris. Can you explain that one?
Dr. Andy Harris: My parents were both immigrants to America from what were communist countries at the time, and America has done so much for my family. The family and, specifically, my father always felt that we should give back to the country that has provided a home for us and has given us so much. My dad, who was also a physician, tried to get into the Air Force Reserve but was apparently too old to serve. I went on to become a physician. When the opportunity came, I volunteered for the Navy Reserve Medical Corps and served in Operation Desert Storm. I kept a commission for 17 years and left as a commander.
Since my parents grew up in a place where freedom was not taken for granted, policy and politics were very important to me. So, I felt I should do everything I can to support freedom, and part of that is being involved in the political process. I went on to join the Maryland State Senate. (It’s certainly very different from practicing medicine!) Now, in the House of Representatives, I serve on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies committee, a subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, which gives me the ability to affect policy. I feel like I have responsibility for the national health and for the defense of freedom around the world.
IF: Being so intimately familiar with health care policy and medicine, and having opposed the Affordable Care Act [Obamacare] of 2010, how do you view insurance policy; and what seems to be inflating upward medical costs for the American family going forward?
AH: My problem with ACA is the government finding a solution to fit you and your family. I think that the people in the family should make the decision about medical care, not the federal government. Any time we block and restrict choice of physicians or hospitals, it harms the patient. ACA was designed to open up dozens of health plans on the government exchanges, but we know there are thousands of counties in the U.S.A. where only one plan is available; that’s not choice. You are being given the best opportunity to choose what’s best for you and your family!
I believe we have to restore the freedom of choice. I support President Trump’s actions to open up “association health plans” that, through very generous definitions of what is an “association” and how one affiliates with one, will open up huge pooling mechanisms to lower the cost for those insured in those associations who may have found government exchanges unaffordable.
One of the approaches is one that the credit unions currently have, which is based on a zip code or geographic location. A health plan could use that same risk-pooling, which would allow the risk premiums to deflate and make the insurance plans cheaper. Obviously these new plans would need to be able to cross state lines. For example, let’s say you are a realtor in Maine, Texas, or Alaska; you would be eligible for the realtors association health plan while still conforming to the ACA regulations. This is similar to the plans of large multi-state employers.
IF: What else can you tell our readers about the ACA?
AH: An interesting policy point in the ACA that many people may not know about is the cap on the percent of the premium that the insurance company can keep as profit or administrative cost, referred to as the MLR, or medical loss ratio. It’s 80 percent for non-employer-sponsored plans, and 85 percent for employer-sponsored plans. Think about it: If you are going into the individual marketplace to buy a policy, your insurance company is allowed to retain 20 percent of the premium. It’s called an administrative cost, but it’s really profit as well. There is no reason for them to want low premiums, because the higher the premium, the higher their profit. This is especially true in a geographic marketplace where there are just one or two plans offered! We have to remove these disincentives, and allow competition to occur.
The two entities that did financially well as a result of the ACA were hospitals, to some extent, and insurance companies, which did extremely well. We’ve got to restore some sanity to the health insurance market. I don’t think Congress will be able to do it with the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. The other thing that we have to be mindful of is the trend in some political races around the country where some acolytes of Bernie Sanders are going to be talking about expanding Medicare or making “Medicare for all.”
What Americans have to realize is the results of that ideology. In my district, for example, people on Medicare will tell you that because of the way the government runs the program, it has become very hard to find a primary care physician or a specialist. Because the Medicare payments to physicians are not as high as those of conventional insurance companies, physicians say they have to limit the number of Medicare patients they treat. This is intolerable and has hurt those people in smaller towns using Medicare.
This downward spiral doesn’t end well. People on Medicare may have an insurance card, but they can’t get medical care with it! By setting what it will pay a provider under Medicare, the government is acting as the ultimate price-fixer. This is very different from the way the government purchases anything else in its operations; everything but healthcare is open to competitive bidding in a free and open marketplace. When price-fixing occurs, you lose access, because the better physicians may say, “I have to limit how many patients I can see at this lower reimbursement rate.”
IF: Can you name some of your political heroes?
AH: Since my family was structured around escaping from the evils of communism – that’s how my parents met, why they fled their countries and came here – I recognize the significance and the brilliance of the freedom we have in the United States of America. Accordingly, three political heroes of mine would be President Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II. These are the ones who showed the world that communism is evil and does not work. The world has a lot to thank these people for. There was no end in sight for the Cold War until this triumvirate came together. They were tremendously forward-looking people. The Pope grew up under communism and experienced what it was first-hand. Thatcher, known as the Iron Lady, saw a problem and worked to solve it, often facing harsh criticism for doing so from within her Parliament. And of course, Ronald Reagan, who for decades was talking about the effects of communism worldwide and how it had to be ended, made the tough political decisions that resulted in the fall of Russian-led communism.
IF: What about present-day politicians? Which ones would you like to share a meal with?
AH: I would always rather have dinner with my family than anyone else, but if I were to choose outside of that, I would love to sit down with Vice-President Pence. I think the world of him. I have had dinner with him in a group but would love to have dinner with him personally. Another fascinating person currently in American politics, that many people in Maryland may not know of is Matt Bevin, current governor of Kentucky. I heard him speak once, and found his background intriguing and fascinating.
IF: Many of our readers will be happy to know that you are currently on the House Republican Israel Caucus, the largest Republican congressional organization dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. Have you taken any trips to Israel? What are your feelings on President Trump moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, despite incredible pressure against it?
AH: I had the privilege of being in Israel twice in my life, for a week each time – which is not enough time to see everything that Israel has to offer. As a Catholic, as a Christian, I know the historic significance of Jerusalem, and what was actually amazing to me at that time was why the U.S. embassy was not in Jerusalem already! I saw the president of Israel’s residence in Jerusalem. I of course visited the Knesset, Israel’s parliamentary home, in Jerusalem. I thought, if Israel houses its main political buildings in its capital city, why wouldn’t the United States have its embassy in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem? Because some group who was not willing to negotiate in good faith with you on the future of your nation says it shouldn’t be in Jerusalem?! Jerusalem, for good reason, has traditionally been the capital of Israel. That disconnect – of our embassy being in Tel Aviv – always bothered me while I was in Israel. I thought to myself, what are we in the United States afraid of recognizing?
Another thing that was striking was going up on the Temple Mount. My wife was told that she had to remove her crucifix around her neck to enter the Muslim-controlled Temple Mount. Really?! Everywhere else in Jerusalem, she could walk without a problem, but if she went up on the Temple Mount she had to take it off. I did not understand that. I know there are also restrictions on prayer, but this did not make sense to me. To an American, this is a foreign idea. It showed me the level of intolerance faced in some Middle East countries. No one would ask you to take a crucifix off in America. I was pretty stunned. No one should talk about religious tolerance on the Temple Mount if we were made to do that. Our goal should be total religious tolerance, and it was shocking how intolerant it was when I wanted to go to the Temple Mount.
IF: Any favorite places in Israel?
AH: Yes, for sure! The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I am an early riser and went to Mass there every morning. The place is packed every day. But if you are there at 7 a.m. you can get in the door. The hotel I stayed in had phenomenal breakfasts as well; it beats the dinners! I went to the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, and the Golan Heights on my second trip to see an Israeli tank base. I went to Ashkelon and saw the Patriot missile batteries.
But there are two things I will always remember: my early morning walks through the old streets of Jerusalem and climbing the Mount of Olives early in the morning and looking down onto the Temple Mount with the sun rising behind me. Wow. That made me believe Jerusalem is the Eternal City!
IF: What do you prefer being called: Doctor, Congressman, or Dad?
AH: Dad! Grandpa! Those are my favorites. I have served many roles. I’ve helped a lot of patients as a physician; I’ve helped a lot of people in the 1st District as a congressman, and I helped a lot of people when I served in the State Senate. None of these roles is more important than being a father and grandfather. It’s equally as important as serving your community, except that serving the community is on a larger scale.
IF: What do you see as the future of conservatism and the Republican party in Maryland?
AH: It’s tempting to think that what conservatives should do is cluster in conservative-minded or “red “states. That may not be the correct idea. One must be willing to share conservative principles in places where there are not so many constitutional conservatives. This is occasionally rewarded by getting a monumental victory, like the election of Gov. Larry Hogan. People here in Washington are shocked to hear that we have a Republican governor of the State of Maryland. These elections don’t occur often, but when they do, they have national significance.
Why was he elected? one may ask. In my opinion, it is because he put together a coalition of people from both parties. That certainly included conservatives, without whom he may not have been elected. The good thing about being a Republican in a Democrat-majority state is that you have the opportunity to spreading your principles to people who may not be familiar with those principles. You can’t do that living amongst yourselves. I am typically the only person the Baltimore Sun calls when they want to hear from a conservative or Republican voice in Maryland. If I didn’t exist or my district did not exist, the people of Maryland would not have exposure to conservative or Republican thinking.
IF: Do you see yourself still being in politics in five or ten years?
AH: My usual answer to that question is that I do not want to make politics a lifelong career. I have been a physician, a state senator, and now a congressman. At some point I will gladly just be a grandfather and pass the torch. When that torch gets passed, I do not know. In Maryland, it’s hard to go any higher than where I am if you are a conservative and have a strictly conservative record. If you had told me 25 years ago that in 2018 I’d be sitting in the Longworth Office Building, I would have said that was pretty unbelievable! It’s truly the American dream! I reflect on it all the time.
My parents were immigrants to this country, and their son sits on the Appropriations Committee. I am also one of the few physicians in Congress. That’s pretty amazing! My parents came here from Europe, learned English, and raised their children as Americans. In return, this country has said, “Not only do we accept you and your family into our country; we will also elect you to Congress!” If Americans think this occurs in other parts of the world, they had better think again!” Most elective processes around the globe are much more closed, and immigrants are not as easily accepted into society as they are here.
It’s a two-way relationship in this country: You accept us and follow our values and ideals, and we will happily accept you. I am very thankful that my parents decided they would raise their children as Americans. One of the greatest disadvantages an immigrant can have in this country is not having to learn the English language, which may make it difficult for that person to be integrated into American life. This country was founded on E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one. It’s important for people to identify as Americans. The Democrats seem to encourage identification as one specific segment of society. There is this idea with them that dividing people into categories is a good thing. I wholeheartedly disagree with that philosophy.
IF: Is it true the Republicans may be looking to draft you as a pitcher for the Congressional baseball game?
AH: I don’t currently play in the Congressional baseball game, but I did play schoolyard ball growing up. With baseball, everyone knows that if you have a great pitching staff, as when the Orioles were world champions and had four 20-game winners, you will be hard to beat. So to win the Congressional game, you just need some good pitching! Growing up, Mickey Mantle was a hero of mine, and I couldn’t believe it when he got paid $100,000! Now even a bench guy gets paid well! Personally, for enjoyment though, I would rather watch college sports now than professional sports.
IF: Any final thoughts?
AH: Interestingly, I had never been to a Sabbath meal until I went to Israel with the YES Israel group. I enjoyed it greatly and it really opened my eyes. To me, it brought to mind what has united the country for centuries not only religiously but also philosophically: the importance of every person. This is what Western civilization is based on, I think – the uniquely Judeo-Christian principles of independent thought, of every person being valuable, things like that. Those are antithetical to the principles that we see in some of the countries that want to terrorize and threaten us. Those countries are based on principles that cannot coexist with American Judeo-Christian principles.
IF: Thank you for your time, Congressman Harris.
